Travel question. Instead of an escorted tour, any of yall ever book at a hotel in

[raccoon]

Paris (or wherever) and then at the hotel book day trips to the Louvre or wherever you want to visit? can you do that without having to book the day trips way in advance?

I have a chance to join a sibling in Paris for a few days in July.

[liberal N proud]

1. We booked a Best Western 3 blocks from the Louvre

Notre Damn was three blocks the other direction and we were two block from the river Halles subway station was at the end of the block.

It was very nice, the staff was very helpful, all spoke english and the price was very reasonable for central Paris. There are hundreds of small hotels all over central Paris.

Enjoy your trip!

[Major Nikon]

2. I generally don't book anything in advance when I go to Paris

Paris has an excellent public transportation system and is designed for non-native speakers much like other very large cities. You can either buy your Louvre tickets in advance or you can buy them at the museum. The Musée d'Orsay is every bit as good as the Louvre and there's also other great museums in Paris, so I believe you can get a pass that gets you into several of them, IIRC. Any hotel that advertises concierge is going to be able to help you, and most people in Paris speak at least some English, especially in all the businesses that deal with tourists. I'm not sure what all you want to see. One thing that might take a bit of prior planning is a day trip to Monet's home, which is well outside the city, but is well worth seeing if you have the time.

[mainer]

4. Giverny and Versailles both wonderful

but require a short train trip.

There's so much to see just by foot in Paris, you could spend weeks and weeks there.

I lived for a few months on the left bank, and was so sorry to leave.

[Major Nikon]

6. To really get the most of the museums I think it's best to do research ahead of time

Certainly the Louvre and d'Orsay are great just to drop in and wander through, but many of the exhibits are well worth studying up on ahead of time so there's much more meaning when you see them. I could spend a week on those two museums alone and still not do them justice. It would take a week just to do a whirlwind tour of all the big tourist stuff and many more to see all that's worth seeing.

[CTyankee]

12. I couldn't agree more. I am an inveterate museum goer and have been to many of the greatest in

Europe. Last May I set aside an entire day for the National Gallery in London and, using art books that go through the works in that museum rather thoroughly, I made my list of "must sees". With a map of each wing of that museum I was able to map a path from beginning to end, without backtracking to see something I missed. It was a bit of work since the National Gallery is just packed with some of the world's greatest art, similar to the Louvre and the Uffizi in Florence.

But I am kind of an amateur art historian, so I get a little crazy...

[Lydia Leftcoast]

3. I heartily recommend that first-time visitors to any place in Europe buy

the Rick Steves guidebooks.

There are other guidebooks, but Rick Steves is especially good for inexperienced travelers.

I used his England guidebook (I hadn't been to Europe since I was a teenager), and he even lists things like what bus to take to get to various sights in London or tells you that you should book a hotel in Wells, England, if you want to stay for the evensong service because the last bus out of town leaves before it's over. What's not worth seeing. What the scams are. How to avoid making cultural mistakes. What things will be different from the States.

Much more practical than a lot of the other guidebooks.

[cbayer]

5. Not a fan of escorted tours, so I would definitely do

what you suggest.

My best advice is to take the time to learn at least a few phrases in french.

Although most people can speak english, you are likely to get a much warmer reception if you start a conversation in the language of the country you are visiting.

Particularly in France.

[mainer]

7. Just saying 'bon jour" to a shopkeeper is key

Americans are thought of as rude because they don't greet shopkeepers with that simple phrase.

[CTyankee]

11. I have done both escorted tour and booked independently. I will say that not all escorted tours

are alike. Road Scholar (Elderhostel) is by far the most welcoming to the well educated, not necessarily the richest, travelers who are looking for enrichment. I am taking my 5th RS trip next month and I wouldn't have attempted it on my own at my age. When I was younger, it was different. But now I want to concentrate my planning on my trip events and locations, not scouring for best airfare, etc. I have also traveled with Smithsonian and a local art museum's organized tour, using independent agents/tour arrangers.

[raccoon]

8. Thanks for your suggestions. Checked out some French language CDs

from my library today, to upgrade my high-school French.

"où sont les toilettes d'antan?"

[uppityperson]

9. où est les toilettes, madame/mssr? works also, leave out the d'antan svp

Always "bon jour" when entering a store or anywhere and "au revoir" when leaving also.

Yay for Paris!

[CTyankee]

10. I did that in Brussels. Found a great airfare+5 star hotel right near Grand Place and

took trains to Ghent, Bruges and Antwerp. Fabulous food and famous museum in Brussels and of course the art in Ghent (Altarpiece by Van Eyck), Bruges (Michelangelo's Madonna, Memling) and Antwerp (Rubens!), was incomparable. Trains run often and are the best way around. English spoken everywhere (don't try out your French unless you ARE French, tho, cuz it annoyed some of the Belgians we encountered and they weren't shy to tell us).

I would go to Paris anytime I had the chance. NOTHING compares to Paris...really...

[elleng]

13. Except Florence???

[CTyankee]

14. Oh, yes. Florence is singular. It has been called "a museum of itself" and that is apt.

BTW, did you see my review of Monuments Men here? I think you will love it. I don't care what the NYT said. The movie has great actors and an exciting plot about a fascinating true story.

[elleng]

15. Will look for your review,

and I certainly plan to see it. Yes, fascinating.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

16. Check open days. We saved - think it was our last Tuesday

to do the Louvre and it was closed. who closes on tuesdays?

Think the coolest thing we did was go to listen to the music at night in the Sainte-Chapelle chapel - truly amazing stained glass - in top ten of best in the world.
Believe it's in the Ile de Cite - central near Seine